Rumor round-up: what Google may have announced at its event

Google was slated to announce a slew of new products and features for the Android platform this morning in New York City. Then, a certain rogue super-storm caused those plans to gang agley. Still, there have been so many leaks and confirmations over the past week leading up to the event that we feel pretty confident about the things Google had on tap. Most significantly, the rumors indicated Google would have announced its new Nexus flagship phone, the Nexus 4, running Android 4.2. There was also talk about a new 10-inch Nexus tablet from Samsung, as well as a storage bump for the Nexus 7.

Enlarge/ The chassis on the LG Nexus may look a little different from its handset cousin, the LG Optimus G.

Spy shots circulating the Web have revealed the new Nexus phone will be manufactured by LG and contain the same innards as the recently launched LG Optimus G. If this is true, the Nexus 4 will feature a quad-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon 4 processor, 4.7-inch 1280x768 display, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chatting, and a 2100mAh battery (though a leak by Carphone Warehouse last Friday pegs the device's storage at only 8GB). Preliminary benchmarks of the LG Optimus G show that it scores among the top Android handsets featured on the Geekbench leaderboard. The Optimus G managed an overall score of 1862 when set to quad-core mode, wedging it into second place on the list, behind the Samsung Galaxy Note II at 1981. If these numbers are any indication for how fast the Nexus 4 could perform, it should be one of the fastest handsets launching this quarter (if Google gets the launch re-scheduled, of course).

Next up on the announcement roster seemed to be Android 4.2, which will most likely not be the anticipated full-fledged iteration of Android—it was previously rumored to be called Key Lime Pie. Rather, this may be an incremental update that brings a few key features to Jelly Bean. Google has previously done this type of release with Android 3.0 Honeycomb, where versions 3.0, 3.1, and 3.2 all shared the same name because each update provided only fairly minor changes. Google also maintained the "Eclair" codename for the shift from 2.0 to 2.1. Otherwise, major point releases have all carried name changes.

Some of the 4.2 features expected to have been announced include a second pull-down menu for quick settings in the Notifications panel, a graphical face lift for the native Gmail and Gallery applications, multiple user accounts for tablet users, and improvements to Google Now, Google's version of Apple's Siri. Google will also introduce a feature called "Content in the center," which will essentially allow users to access their Play Store content from a single widget, rather than having to dig for it within the marketplace app. Other rumors point to Google introducing an improved panoramic picture mode that functions in both landscape and portrait orientation.

Found in Android 4.2's alpha version, Quick Settings may soon become a part of the drop-down panel.

One of the most eagerly-awaited 4.2 features is Google's implementation of SELinux and always-on VPN within Android to help beef up security for enterprise users. Another highlight anticipated bit is the additional built-in virus scanning feature that will warn users if they’re installing an application with malicious code. Android has been under quite a bit of fire for its security vulnerabilities and apps laced with malware, and these new features may help the mobile OS recover from its shaky reputation as one of the more unsecured mobile platforms.

Should the event still happen, it could also feature Samsung stepping up to stage with a new 10-inch tablet, whose instruction manual was leaked last week. Codenamed "Manta," the tablet will run Android 4.2 and come with come with a 1.7Ghz dual-core Exynos 5250, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and NFC capabilities. Additionally, its 10.1-inch Super AMOLED display will offer a 2560x1600 pixel resolution at almost 300 pixels-per-inch, rivaling the iPad’s 2048x1536 resolution and 264 PPI. It might be the first tablet to break the 300 PPI barrier. While there is no word yet on what the official name for the Samsung tablet will be, many are already referring to it as the Nexus 10.

A photo taken by Google's Senior Vice President of Engineering, Vic Gundotra, from what is purportedly a Nexus 10, according to the EXIF information.

But what about its photo-taking abilities? Senior Vice President of Engineering, Vic Gundotra, also leaked a photo apparently taken with a Nexus 10 (as evidenced by the EXIF data that appears on his Google+ page). The picture shows a beach, as you see above, but the data shows the photo is only 2048x1536 pixels. That's only a 3.1MP resolution, as pointed out by Android Central, even though the specification leaks show a 5MP camera attached. Hopefully the discrepancy is due to a Google+ resizing and isn't an indication of another bad Samsung tablet camera.

Lastly, users who may have been holding out on the Asus-manufactured Nexus 7 might be interested to know there have been leaked advertisements for a 32GB versions of the 7-inch tablet. This is interesting news, considering that the Google Play store has run out of 8GB Nexus 7 tablets and hasn't exactly been in a rush to restock. There's also speculation the 32GB Nexus 7 will offer a HSPA+ 3G connection, which would enable business types and jet-setters devoted to the Android platform to take their tablets with them when they travel to other cellular markets.

We're still waiting on word from Google on when or if the launch will be rescheduled, so stay tuned. In the meantime over on the other side of the country, Microsoft will be formally launching Windows Phone 8. So if you want to keep an eye on the smartphone competitive landscape, hit our liveblog of the event!

I currently use a nook color and never once needed to take a picture. Face talk is something that I can see being important on a tablet, so the front camera makes sense, but if it lowers the price then I wouldn't mind them cheaping out on the back camera.

My main concern is that the Nexus 4 has at least a 32GB model available and LTE with European bands (800/1800/2600Mhz) on board. There's no way that in late 2012 that I'm buying a phone to keep for the next two years that doesn't have both of those things (especially since there's no microSD slot).

Additionally, its 10.1-inch Super AMOLED display will offer a 2560x1600 pixel resolution at almost 300 pixels-per-inch, rivaling the iPad’s 1024x768 resolution and 264 PPI. It might be the first tablet to break the 300 PPI barrier.

The current generation iPad has a 2048-by-1536 resolution with 264 PPI.

It makes me sad to see another version of android, when 90% of androids don't even have jellybean yet.

The more I think about it the more I have just came to accept it. When you buy a device, you buy it as is, the smarmy sales guy insisting that future upgrades are on the way is not likely moored to reality. If you feel like firmware updates are a deal breaker you have a few choices; buy nexus branded devices, install custom ROMs, or pray for manufacturer/carrier support for updates.

Who cares if a tablet has a camera you look like a total idiot taking a photo with an tablet. I've used my tablets camera twice. Once was to play around with it when I got it and the second time was after my phone broke and that's it in the 2years I've had my tablet

There's also speculation the 32GB Nexus 7 will offer a HSPA+ 3G connection

That seems like wishful thinking. The storage bump wouldn't require a major architecture change, it's little more than a tweak. But HSPA+3G is another chip(set), right? Oh, and an antenna, and possibly (likely) a new case design. Although, in the same form factor, they might still call it a Nexus 7X or something. Seems like an all new product, though.

Edit: man, was I ever wrong. Google made it official. Follow-up post below.

I'm not trying to make out that one is better than the other, but to say that Google Now is Google's version of Siri is an inaccurate generalisation at best.

I disagree. Both features are designed to be digital personal assistant types; the implementations are different, but Google Now has significant feature crossover with Siri. Sticking them in the same category avoids getting into several paragraphs of pedantry.

Apparently. I was at an airshow Sunday, my father sprung for prime seating (pretty much front 4 rows on the "50 yard line") and every time something occurred, there were a ton of idiots holding their 10"+ slates up to take pictures... blocking the view of on-ground events for everyone behind them.

I've also been to museums where morons stand there in front of the exhibits for 3 minutes trying to frame it on their ridiculously large iPad screen...

It makes me sad to see another version of android, when 90% of androids don't even have jellybean yet.

The more I think about it the more I have just came to accept it. When you buy a device, you buy it as is, the smarmy sales guy insisting that future upgrades are on the way is not likely moored to reality. If you feel like firmware updates are a deal breaker you have a few choices; buy nexus branded devices, install custom ROMs, or pray for manufacturer/carrier support for updates.

Or buy Apple, who will give you progressively limited updates for some time before it lets you in the cold.

I do for notes / reminders / quick document 'scans'. I know im in the minority (as I use this for work).

If I need to take photos, I use my phone, or a real camera.

Youth sporting events have a surprising number of parents using iPads to video or snap photos of their kids playing. I used to think it was odd, but using the 1.5" screen on my video camera is somewhat annoying. I can see where someone with poor vision might prefer a 10" screen on the back of their "video camera", even if it probably means really sore arms.

I currently use a nook color and never once needed to take a picture. Face talk is something that I can see being important on a tablet, so the front camera makes sense, but if it lowers the price then I wouldn't mind them cheaping out on the back camera.

Using the tablet as a document camera makes more sense than taking snapshots with one, and then the rear-facing camera is nice. It looks like you can get a whole 5.1 mp camera for $20 now, so I can't see this significantly affecting price.

It would be nifty to have a single camera that could swivel, like some old laptops had, then the hi-res cam would at least be useful for self-portraits.

Carphone Warehouse didn't leak anything. They made a placeholder page based off of rumors already out there. This is why they used the proven fake "press shot"(which you have also used for this article despite known forgery) on the page instead of an official one. It should be deemed irrelevant to speculation because it doesn't have new information of any kind.

Also, Google Now gets compared to Siri despite their lack of similarities. Google Now isn't a voice based assistant like Siri is. It isn't as good with natural speaking recognition. It also factors a whole lot of information from your account and location to provide relevant information to you without speaking. The only reason to say that Google Now is "Google's version of Apple's Siri," is to try to play into the rivalry of the platforms. Don't stoop to that.

It makes me sad to see another version of android, when 90% of androids don't even have jellybean yet.

Are you crying? Do you actually have tears? Do you want a tissue? This has been discussed to death so please stop trolling.

Discussed to death, but until they fix the issue of carrier slavery it SHOULD continue to be talked to death, people need to make the carriers aware that this is BS. Apple had the clout to do independent updates outside of the scope of the carrier with no bloatware as a new entry to the smartphone market, other manufacturers are so beholden to the carriers that that upgrades are far and few between.

Carphone Warehouse didn't leak anything. They made a placeholder page based off of rumors already out there. This is why they used the proven fake "press shot"(which you have also used for this article despite known forgery) on the page instead of an official one. It should be deemed irrelevant to speculation because it doesn't have new information of any kind.

Also, Google Now gets compared to Siri despite their lack of similarities. Google Now isn't a voice based assistant like Siri is. It isn't as good with natural speaking recognition. It also factors a whole lot of information from your account and location to provide relevant information to you without speaking. The only reason to say that Google Now is "Google's version of Apple's Siri," is to try to play into the rivalry of the platforms. Don't stoop to that.

I agree with everything except for, "It isn't as good with natural speaking recognition.". I use it every day to compose emails and text messages. It almost never makes a mistake. Try it.

You are not making sense. If true that the display is Super Amoled, then this is a PenTile screen which is far inferior to the iPad screen. Actually the real PPI is in fact much less than 298 PPI because of the sub pixel arrangement in this type of display. The higher resolution mitigates the PenTile inferior quality but it can't equal an IPS display with full sub RGB and retina resolution.

It seems that Samsung continues to sell those inferior PenTile displays in its products with false marketing about the resolution and I have to say that the tech media often sadly ignores this fundamental difference.

Florence Ion / Florence was a former Reviews Editor at Ars, with a focus on Android, gadgets, and essential gear. She received a degree in journalism from San Francisco State University and lives in the Bay Area.